Saturday, August 22, 2015

PNC Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Christopher Heston (11-7) vs. Gerrit Cole (14-7)

The San Francisco Giants take on the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday at PNC Park. Christopher Heston is the probable starter for the Giants and he'll face Gerrit Cole of the Pirates. The opening line for this matchup has San Francisco at +165 and Pittsburgh at -175. The over/under was set at 7. The Giants have a 57-55 over/under record and a 67-54 run line mark, meaning they cover 55% of the time. The Pirates are 54-65 against the run line and have a 53-55 over/under record. They cover the spread 45% of the time.

The Giants show up with a 65-56 record, including 30-32 on the road. Starting pitcher Christopher Heston holds a 11-7 record with an earned run average of 3.34 and a WHIP of 1.22. He's pitched 145.2 innings thus far while surrendering 129 hits over that time and when he starts, the Giants are 14-10. Against the over/under, the Giants are 12-11 in his starts. The team is averaging 4.9 runs when he starts. The bullpen has given up 322 hits on the season and have an earned run average of 3.25. The bullpen has struck out 307 and walked 105 batters this season while opposing teams hit .233 against them. San Francisco has a team average of 8.43 hits allowed per game and are averaging 7.32 strikeouts per nine innings. With a team earned run average of 3.66, they are 10th in the league.

San Francisco is batting .269 as a team, which is good for 2nd in the league and hitting .269 away from home. The Giants on-base percentage sits at .327, which puts them at 4th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .409. With 134 hits, Buster Posey leads the team while his team ranks 3rd in hits per game with 9.26.

Pittsburgh is 42-19 at home while holding a 72-47 overall record on the season. With an earned run average of 2.61, Gerrit Cole will come into this game holding a 14-7 record and a 1.14 WHIP. He's pitched 155.1 innings thus far while surrendering 142 hits over that time in which the Pirates are 16-8. Against the over/under, the Pirates are 8-14 when he starts. The team is averaging 3.6 runs when he takes the field. The bullpen has given up 334 hits on the season and have a team earned run average of 2.60. The Pirates bullpen has struck out 331 batters and walked 117 this season while opposing teams have hit .234 against them. Pittsburgh has a team average of 8.48 hits per game and are averaging 7.96 strikeouts per nine innings. With a team earned run average of 3.18, they are 2nd in the league.

They are batting .261 as a team, which is good for 7th in the league and hitting .265 at home. The Pirates on-base percentage sits at .322, which puts them at 9th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .397. With 123 hits, Andrew McCutchen leads the team while his team ranks 7th in hits per game with 9.09.

In terms of team defense, the Giants have a fielding percentage of .987 with 58 total errors, 1,250 assists and 3,230 put outs. Over the course of this season, the Pirates have accumulated 86 errors while having 1412 assists and 3,296 put outs leading to a .982 fielding percentage.

San Francisco Giants Betting Trends

The San Francisco Giants are 57-55 against the over/under so far this season

The San Francisco Giants are 67-54 against the run line so far this season

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 53-55 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 54-65 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

San Francisco Giants

08/20/15 RF Hunter Pence Oblique Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/18)
08/11/15 CF Angel Pagan Knee Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/11)
08/07/15 P Mike Leake Hamstring Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/3)
08/04/15 2B Joe Panik Back Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/2)
07/31/15 P Tim Hudson Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/31)
07/01/15 P Tim Lincecum Forearm Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (6/28)
06/18/15 2B Marco Scutaro Back Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (6/17); out for season

Pittsburgh Pirates

08/21/15 3B Josh Harrison Thumb Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/6); expected to start Friday vs. San Francisco Giants
08/08/15 P Deolis Guerra Knee Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/7)
08/01/15 P A.J. Burnett Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/31)
07/20/15 SS Jordy Mercer Knee Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/20)
07/19/15 CF Gorkys Hernandez Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/13)
06/24/15 RF Corey Hart Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (6/22)
05/07/15 LF Andrew Lambo Plantar Fasciitis Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/4)
04/06/15 P Brandon Cumpton Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27)

Tony's Pick: Take the Giants

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